scholarly journals Nucleic Acids Chemistry and Engineering: Special Issue on Nucleic Acid Conjugates for Biotechnological Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3594
Author(s):  
Tamaki Endoh ◽  
Eriks Rozners ◽  
Takashi Ohtsuki

Nucleic acids not only store genetic information in their primary sequence but also exhibit biological functions through the formation of their unique structures [...]

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaoru Sato ◽  
Mikiko C. Siomi

The integrity of the germline genome must be maintained to achieve successive generations of a species, because germline cells are the only source for transmitting genetic information to the next generation. Accordingly, the germline has acquired a system dedicated to protecting the genome from ‘injuries’ caused by harmful selfish nucleic acid elements, such as TEs (transposable elements). Accumulating evidence shows that a germline-specific subclass of small non-coding RNAs, piRNAs (piwi-interacting RNAs), are necessary for silencing TEs to protect the genome in germline cells. To silence TEs post-transcriptionally and/or transcriptionally, mature piRNAs are loaded on to germline-specific Argonaute proteins, or PIWI proteins, to form the piRISC (piRNA-induced silencing complex). The present chapter will highlight insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying piRISC-mediated silencing and piRNA biogenesis, and discuss a possible link with tumorigenesis, particularly in Drosophila.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 5126-5164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke K. McKenzie ◽  
Roberto El-Khoury ◽  
James D. Thorpe ◽  
Masad J. Damha ◽  
Marcel Hollenstein

While Nature harnesses RNA and DNA to store, read and write genetic information, the inherent programmability, synthetic accessibility and wide functionality of these nucleic acids make them attractive tools for use in a vast array of applications.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin R. Halman ◽  
Kirill A. Afonin

The use of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) offers a unique and multifunctional platform for numerous applications including therapeutics, diagnostics, nanodevices, and materials [...]


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Corradini

Polyamide analogs of DNA, or peptide nucleic acid (PNA), were first proposed in 1991 by a group of chemists and biochemists in a memorable Science paper [1].[…]


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Steven Seifert

Advances in understanding mechanisms of nucleic acids have revolutionized molecular biology and medicine, but understanding of nontraditional nucleic acid conformations is less developed. The guanine quadruplex (G4) alternative DNA structure was first described in the 1960s, but the existence of G4 structures (G4-S) and their participation in myriads of biological functions are still underappreciated. Despite many tools to study G4s and many examples of roles for G4s in eukaryotic molecular processes and issues with uncontrolled G4-S formation, there is relatively little knowledge about the roles of G4-S in viral or prokaryotic systems. This review summarizes the state of the art with regard to G4-S in eukaryotes and their potential roles in human disease before discussing the evidence that G4-S have equivalent importance in affecting viral and bacterial life.


Author(s):  
Dimitrij Lang

The success of the protein monolayer technique for electron microscopy of individual DNA molecules is based on the prevention of aggregation and orientation of the molecules during drying on specimen grids. DNA adsorbs first to a surface-denatured, insoluble cytochrome c monolayer which is then transferred to grids, without major distortion, by touching. Fig. 1 shows three basic procedures which, modified or not, permit the study of various important properties of nucleic acids, either in concert with other methods or exclusively:1) Molecular weights relative to DNA standards as well as number distributions of molecular weights can be obtained from contour length measurements with a sample standard deviation between 1 and 4%.


Author(s):  
Stephen D. Jett

The electrophoresis gel mobility shift assay is a popular method for the study of protein-nucleic acid interactions. The binding of proteins to DNA is characterized by a reduction in the electrophoretic mobility of the nucleic acid. Binding affinity, stoichiometry, and kinetics can be obtained from such assays; however, it is often desirable to image the various species in the gel bands using TEM. Present methods for isolation of nucleoproteins from gel bands are inefficient and often destroy the native structure of the complexes. We have developed a technique, called “snapshot blotting,” by which nucleic acids and nucleoprotein complexes in electrophoresis gels can be electrophoretically transferred directly onto carbon-coated grids for TEM imaging.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-228
Author(s):  
Nabanita Saikia ◽  
Mohamed Taha ◽  
Ravindra Pandey

The rational design of self-assembled nanobio-molecular hybrids of peptide nucleic acids with single-wall nanotubes rely on understanding how biomolecules recognize and mediate intermolecular interactions with the nanomaterial's surface.


The Analyst ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingteng Lai ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Yanke Zhang ◽  
Zheng-Chun Liu

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have attracted tremendous interest in the fabrication of highly sensitive electrochemical nucleic acid biosensor due to their higher stability and increased sensitivity than common DNA probes....


mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Engel ◽  
Sara Coyotzi ◽  
Melody A. Vachon ◽  
Jennifer R. McKelvie ◽  
Josh D. Neufeld

ABSTRACT Bentonite clay is an integral component of the engineered barrier system of deep geological repositories (DGRs) that are planned for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste. Although nucleic acid extraction and analysis can provide powerful qualitative and quantitative data reflecting the presence, abundance, and functional potential of microorganisms within DGR materials, extraction of microbial DNA from bentonite clay is challenging due to the low biomass and adsorption of nucleic acids to the charged clay matrix. In this study, we used quantitative PCR, gel fingerprinting, and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons to assess DNA extraction efficiency from natural MX-80 bentonite and the same material “spiked” with Escherichia coli genomic DNA. Extraction protocols were tested without additives and with casein and phosphate as blocking agents. Although we demonstrate improved DNA recovery by blocking agents at relatively high DNA spiking concentrations, at relatively low spiking concentrations, we detected a high proportion of contaminant nucleic acids from blocking agents that masked sample-specific microbial profile data. Because bacterial genomic DNA associated with casein preparations was insufficiently removed by UV treatment, casein is not recommended as an additive for DNA extractions from low-biomass samples. Instead, we recommend a kit-based extraction protocol for bentonite clay without additional blocking agents, as tested here and validated with multiple MX-80 bentonite samples, ensuring relatively high DNA recoveries with minimal contamination. IMPORTANCE Extraction of microbial DNA from MX-80 bentonite is challenging due to low biomass and adsorption of nucleic acid molecules to the charged clay matrix. Blocking agents improve DNA recovery, but their impact on microbial community profiles from low-biomass samples has not been characterized well. In this study, we evaluated the effect of casein and phosphate as blocking agents for quantitative recovery of nucleic acids from MX-80 bentonite. Our data justify a simplified framework for analyzing microbial community DNA associated with swelling MX-80 bentonite samples within the context of a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel. This study is among the first to demonstrate successful extraction of DNA from Wyoming MX-80 bentonite.


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